Calmily sent me a weighted pillow for review. All opinions are my own.
A couple of months ago I learned that my therapist believes I am autistic. They can’t formally diagnose this, so it’s still a “maybe” for me, but they have done additional training and education in autism so I tend to assume they’re correct. It’s been a bit of an interesting experience to have this realization in my 30s! Yet, I know a lot of other people are getting diagnosed later in life these days, so I am far from alone.
One of the things I’ve been working on since this realization is noticing and accommodating my sensory needs. It’s proven to be a little bit difficult, after decades of suppressing them! However, one thing I have noticed is I like deep pressure. If you enjoy the feeling of the weighted vest at the dentist, that’s a major sign that you like deep pressure. I realize now that another way I used to get deep pressure was through taking baths and submerging myself entirely. I liked being able to feel the water on all of my body at once. I knew that when I moved to my current house, which only has an upright shower, that I really missed having a bathtub, but I didn’t get why baths were so comforting for me.
When looking for other ways to get deep pressure, I came across weighted blankets, which I had tried before and found to cause me pain if I try to sleep with them. I also have dysautonomia so my body doesn’t regulate my temperature very well, and weighted blankets are often not very breathable. So, those were quickly scratched off the list. Then I came across weighted stuffed animals. These are cute, but I had mixed feelings about being an adult using a plush toy on my lap while working, for example.
Calmily Weighted Pillow Review
so, when I came across Calmily, a company that makes weighted pillows that are just solid gray? I immediately thought that they were a great solution, similar to a weighted stuffed animal, but more ‘adult’ looking. Perfect!
Calmily is a company that really works to stand behind their values. The idea came about when a Libby, a pediatric physical therapist who had lots of experience helping neurodivergent kids, realized that there was an unmet need when it came to weighted items. She felt they were often too big, too heavy, too light, or too stigmatizing. They employ neurodivergent workers and workers with intellectual or developmental disabilities, giving them meaningful jobs. The pillows are handcrafted in New York.
The pillow is shaped like a short candy cane. The pillow weighs five pounds total, but it’s graded, so the top layer weighs more than the bottom layer. The curved portion of the pillow (to me at least) just seems like a regular pillow. The other end of the pillow has the most weight. You can lay this pillow on you in different positions to get a different feeling of how much weight is on you and where it’s pressing. I like using the curved part behind my neck and head, and laying the heavy part on my chest for pressure, like shown above. However, if I wanted less weight in a similar position, I could keep most of the pillow behind my head but put the heavy part of the pillow against the bed (or couch or wherever I was resting) like shown below, to take some of the weight off me, resulting in some – but less- pressure!
It was designed really thoughtfully. The tag is hidden, there are no zippers or velcro making for a smooth sensory experience. It comes with a removable outer cover that is machine washable. It is made of Egyptian cotton which is soft to the touch.
I like how it looks appropriate for use of any age, and really can be used for a wide range of ages! It’s suitable for young kids but also adults. It isn’t too attention-grabbing to take along and let other people see. While I hate that many people feel the need to hide their differences, I also recognize that the reality is that many people don’t want to bring a ton of attention to the tools they use for their neurodivergence or other needs. This pillow definitely helps accomplish that.
I’ve really enjoyed having this pillow around. I mostly use it to relax after work while watching a show or being on my phone. However, I have also grabbed it to lay over my lap while working when I’m feeling sort of unsettled or extra-easily distracted.
Buy it: You can purchase from Calmily on the Calmily website. Use the code Emily15 to save 15% off your order! Need a last-minute gift? You can purchase a gift card to Calmily so they can purchase the pillow themselves!
Win it: A Calmily weighted pillow! This giveaway is open to US addresses and will end January 4th 2026. Fill out the GT form below to enter.
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Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
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